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Newcastle United find themselves well in the hunt for a strong finish to the Premier League season and could look to pounce for a high-profile star on the market, according to a report.

Newcastle United's pursuit of summer signings

The Magpies have Champions League football firmly in their sights under Eddie Howe and will look to finalise their place in next year’s league phase before turning their attention to the summer transfer window.

Turning the spotlight on one of their direct competitors, Newcastle hope to sign James McAtee from Manchester City in the next few months and will take encouragement from the fact he has one year left on his deal at the Etihad Stadium.

Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are also in the hunt for his signature, which may pose a challenge in convincing the England Under-21 international that Tyneside is the place to be ahead of next season.

On the same token, talks have taken place over Newcastle making a move for Douglas Luiz with Juventus sporting director Cristian Giuntoli. The possibility of a swap deal involving Sandro Tonali has also been discussed.

Looking to the future, Heart of Midlothian forward James Wilson is a Magpies target, even if he would likely be viewed as one for the future by chiefs at St James’ Park.

Related Romano: Newcastle "keen on signing" £70m "tank" with same agent as Gordon

They’ve wanted him for ages.

Posts ByBarney Lane Apr 27, 2025

PSR regulations will need to be met by Newcastle alongside every one of their direct rivals in the Premier League. In turn, that may lead to certain positions being prioritised for strengthening, while others could be left on the backburner.

Regardless, plenty of movement is underway in the North East and recent developments suggest that a marquee arrival could be set for a move to Tyneside.

Newcastle United ready to strike for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle United are plotting a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who has wowed the Magpies’ recruitment team during extensive scouting missions over the last few years.

Howe would jump at the chance to bring in the Cameroon international if his current employers were willing to sell, though the Bees’ demand of over £60 million may provide food for thought once the summer window opens.

Bryan Mbeumo vs Anthony Gordon – Premier League attacking output in 2024/25

Bryan Mbeumo

Goals

18

Assists

6

Chances created

65

Shots on target

36

Completed dribbles

44

Anthony Gordon

Goals

6

Assists

5

Chances created

50

Shots on target

19

Completed dribbles

35

Labelled “fantastic” by Thomas Frank, Mbeumo has enjoyed a fantastic campaign in front of goal, registering 18 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.

His versatility is said to be a major reason behind Howe’s desire to land the winger. However, Newcastle are likely to wait and see what continental competition they end up in before stepping up their interest.

Attacking reinforcements appear to be on the agenda at St James’ Park and Mbeumo would be the ideal candidate to ensure the Magpies build from a position of strength.

Newcastle United are in the race to sign a “magnificent” Premier League player this summer, with it emerging he is now set to leave his club, according to a report.

Newcastle's summer transfer plans

The main transfer saga Newcastle are involved in at the moment centers around the future of talisman Alexander Isak, who is attracting widespread interest from some of England’s biggest clubs, with Liverpool and Arsenal set to make summer proposals.

The Magpies are determined to keep hold of Isak, but should they be forced to sanction a departure, there are some fantastic potential replacements in mind, having recently made an approach for Lille striker Jonathan David.

Striker is not the only position in which Eddie Howe may strengthen this summer, however, with a move for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke being plotted, and there is a feeling the Blues may be willing to cash-in on the England international this summer.

Related Newcastle and PIF in contact to sign "incredible" £33m+ PL star for Howe

Eddie Howe is eyeing a deal for an in-form star once the transfer window opens.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Mar 31, 2025

There have also been suggestions Newcastle could pursue a new goalkeeper to provide competition for Nick Pope between the sticks, with Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens on the shortlist, alongside a Premier League shot-stopper.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the EFL Cup winners have Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on the radar for a potential summer transfer swoop, with the Englishman set to leave in the summer, given his side’s impending relegation.

Ramsdale has no desire to play in the Championship, meaning he is set to depart at the end of the season, and there is a relegation release clause in his contract, which could make him an attractive option for a number of Premier League clubs.

AFC Bournemouth and Championship promotion-hopefuls Leeds United are also interested in the goalkeeper, who cost the Saints £25m last summer.

"Magnificent" Ramsdale has experience playing under Howe

The report makes it clear that James Trafford remains Newcastle’s top target, but the Southampton goalkeeper may also be a solid choice, particularly considering his experience playing under Howe.

During his time with Bournemouth, the 6 foot 2 colossus was lauded as “magnificent” by the Newcastle manager, and he has been one of the only bright sparks in a Saints side which has vastly disappointed this season.

SofaScore ranks the five-time England international as Southampton’s best-performing player in the Premier League, and he also impressed at times during his spell with Arsenal, before ultimately being replaced by David Raya.

Ramsdale could be a solid signing for Newcastle this summer, but it is clear to see why Trafford remains the priority target, with the Burnley goalkeeper shipping just 11 goals all season in the Championship, playing a major role in the Clarets’ promotion push.

Five teams, including Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, are still in contention for a spot in the WTC final

S Rajesh26-Oct-2024India
Two shocking defeats against New Zealand means that India have left themselves with plenty to do to make a third consecutive WTC final, although they are still hanging on to the top spot currently with a slender lead over Australia. To be certain of a place in the top two in this cycle, India need to win the last Test of the ongoing series against New Zealand – in Mumbai – and then beat Australia 3-2. That will take them to 64.04% points (assuming they don’t lose any points due to slow over rates).Even if Australia win 2-0 in Sri Lanka, they can still only get to 60.53% with two wins against India, while New Zealand will end up at 57.14% if they lose in Mumbai and then beat England 3-0 at home. In that case, South Africa will be the only team which can top India. A 2-2 series result in Australia will leave India on 60.53% in comparison to Australia’s 62.28% (assuming India win in Mumbai, and Australia beat Sri Lanka 2-0).Related

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If India lose in Mumbai, New Zealand can finish on 64.29%, but only with a 3-0 result against England. Then India will need four wins and a draw in Australia to make sure of a place in the final, regardless of other results.However, India can still finish in the top two with fewer wins if the other teams in contention don’t maximise their points. For example, if New Zealand lose in Mumbai and beat England 2-0, they will only get to 52.38%; if South Africa lose one of their five remaining Tests, they will finish on 61.11%; and if Australia beat India 3-2 but draw 1-1 in Sri Lanka, they will finish on 60.53%.New Zealand
At the start of the series in India, it seemed highly improbable that New Zealand would still be in contention for a place in the final. But their stunning wins after two out of the three Tests have given them a chance to dream. If they win each of their four remaining Tests, they will finish on 64.29%. It won’t ensure qualification, but it will certainly keep them in the mix. If they lose one of those Tests, though, their percentage will drop to 57.14%.South Africa
If South Africa win each of their five remaining Tests, they will finish with 69.44%, which will surely be enough for qualification, as only one out of India or Australia can go past that number. Four wins and a draw will leave South Africa with 63.89%, while four wins and a defeat will lower the percentage marginally to 61.11%, which could still give them a chance if other results go their way. They have a favourable schedule, though, with home Tests to come against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, after the second Test of their ongoing series against Bangladesh.If South Africa win their five remaining Tests, it will be enough for a place in the WTC final•AFP/Getty ImagesAustralia
India’s defeats against New Zealand have improved Australia’s chances of making it to the final. A 3-2 series win against India and a 1-0 victory in Sri Lanka will take them to 62.28%, ensuring they finish ahead of India. New Zealand can still surpass that, but only if they win each of their remaining games. If New Zealand slip up, then South Africa is the only team which can go past Australia. To ensure qualification without depending on other results, Australia need five wins from their seven remaining matches.Sri Lanka
With a full 24 points gained from their last two Tests, Sri Lanka have made a strong push towards a top-two finish in this WTC cycle. Their four remaining Tests are against two opponents who are also contenders for the final. If they win each of those matches and take home 48 more points, they will finish on 69.23% and assure themselves of a place in the final regardless of other results. If they lose one and win three, they will end up at 61.54%, which will still leave them with a chance of qualifying, depending on other results.England
The two defeats in Pakistan means that England can finish with a maximum of 48.86% even if they beat New Zealand 3-0 in their last series of the current cycle. That won’t be enough for a place in the final.Even if Pakistan win their last four Tests, it will be too late to make a difference in this WTC•Getty ImagesPakistan
Pakistan’s home form has shown some revival, but it is too late to make a difference in this cycle. Even if they win each of their last four Tests, they can only finish on 52.38%, with no chance of making it to the final.Bangladesh
The three defeats in their last three Tests against India and South Africa have hurt Bangladesh badly – from having 45.83% points at one stage, they have dropped to 30.56% now. Even if they win each of their three remaining Tests, they will only improve to 47.92%, which won’t be enough for a place in the top two.West Indies
West Indies have already played four series and have only scored 20 points out of a possible 108. Even if they win their last four Tests, they can only finish on 43.59%, and are hence out of the race for a spot in the WTC final.

The opener hasn’t played a single T20I this year but knows the next two weeks are crucial with the T20 World Cup looming

Shashank Kishore26-Aug-20224:16

KL Rahul: ‘Playing Shaheen Shah Afridi could have helped challenge ourselves ahead of the T20 World Cup’

KL Rahul is yet to feature in a T20I this year because of injuries, and in the time he has been away, India have shifted towards a new approach to the format from a batting perspective. He may not have been an active part of this process, but he’s aware of it, and happy to buy into it as India look to fine-tune preparations leading into the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.On Thursday, Rahul had his first hit with the T20I squad after arriving from Zimbabwe, where he led India to a 3-0 sweep in the ODI series. With scores of 1 and 30 in the two innings he played in Harare, his own batting form was patchy, and Rahul’s focus in the nets was simply on enjoying an extended session.Even as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav brought out their artistry, Rahul seemed intent on bringing back his fluency. VVS Laxman even jokingly stopped him from coming out of the nets twice. Rahul enjoyed three stints in all, over a three-hour session.Related

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He was edgy against pace initially, and was beaten on length on at least three occasions by Arshdeep Singh’s angle away from him. Rahul held his own against Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing, though, getting right behind the line and moving swiftly into position to drive and play straight. His sessions were closely monitored by two cameras – one behind the stumps and another in front of cover, just outside the net.After his first 30-minute session, Rahul cooled off for a bit and went back in for round two against spin. Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin challenged him by pushing him back with a series of quicker ones and sliders. Rahul focused on his back-foot play, and the big shots that weren’t seen in his first session slowly surfaced late into his second as he tonked a straight hit over the sightscreen.In the third session, Rahul was simply focused on meeting the ball with giant forward strides, especially against Arshdeep, who bounded in tirelessly. The left-arm seamer was tossed a new ball that he swung back in from different lines, ranging from fourth stump to middle, just to get Rahul playing straight and ensuring he wasn’t bringing his front pad in the way. For someone who has all the shots in the book, this session was all about the basics.Then, as the last round was called, Rahul had fun, paddling and ramping deliveries before ending with a flat-batted slap to walk off tired and happy. The punch on the bat as he walked off resonated with satisfaction at grinding his way in.KL Rahul last played a T20I in November 2021•BCCIOn Friday, Rahul spoke of India’s new approach and of enjoying the challenge of bringing it to life. At IPL 2022, his most-recent competitive T20 outing, Rahul’s powerplay strike rates barely crossed 100, drawing plenty of chatter from pundits and former players. In the death overs, though, which he seemed intent on building towards, he struck at 198.36. Overall, Rahul ended the season with the second-most runs – 635 in 14 innings at a strike rate of 135.38 – behind Jos Buttler.”This new approach, we’d spoken about it much before when I was part of the team early on in the year as well and just after the [2021 T20] World Cup,” Rahul said. “Last season we had spoken about what we need to improve individually and how as a team we try to be more aggressive, put the bowlers under pressure by going out there and play with a lot of authority, freedom and aggression.”So I was there when that happened. Unfortunately, I have not been able to play too many T20Is since then, but we have played the IPL, and I played with the same approach, tried to see how with that same approach I can be consistent and still contribute to the team. I haven’t played since the last two-three months, and that is a challenge for me, one I am looking forward to.”It’s done really well for us, the new approach. What the team wanted and what the captain needed has been embraced by everybody, every player in the team, which is great to see and that is the biggest step. That big step has already been taken and embraced by the players, so from now on it’s only about building on it and getting stronger and by the time the World Cup comes, everyone knows exactly what to do.”The next two weeks could be another test of Rahul’s work towards returning to being the white-ball destroyer he can be. He isn’t the captain, and he has a middle order that can take apart the best of attacks. From a team point of view, it’s all systems go. Rahul couldn’t ask for a more ideal scenario than this.

Three key seniors were sick in the lead-up to the final, but where others would have panicked, Saurashtra planned

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot13-Mar-2020Exactly a week ago, the Saurashtra camp was hit by a slew of illnesses. Two days prior to the Ranji Trophy final, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, the left-arm spinner, Arpit Vasavada, a batting mainstay and Cheteshwar Pujara, their No. 1 batsman, were all sick. Jadeja and Vasavada were running temperatures while Pujara had a throat infection and bouts of dizziness.Three big players not participating in their training session two days ahead of a big game may have given a jolt to most teams. Saurashtra had back-ups and prepared them to be match-ready, even though they hoped the sick trio would be match-fit. And so, two days prior to the game, the reserves underwent a longer than usual hit out at the nets under Jaydev Unadkat’s supervision. The team channelled whatever mild panic they might have felt in a productive way.After victory was achieved on the fifth day of a dreary final that was decided on the basis of a first-innings lead, Pujara revealed how he had to battle against his own body to be ready for an occasion he simply didn’t want to miss.He eventually came out to bat at No. 6 in the first innings, but retired hurt after spending just 30 minutes at the crease. It was only on the second day, after a night’s rest and some medicines, that a “half-okay” Pujara returned to the crease. He then defied the bowling to play “probably one of my slowest knocks (laughs)”. He faced 267 deliveries for his 64, putting on 142 with Vasavada to set the tone for a sizeable first-innings score.ALSO READ: Stats – Saurashtra’s maiden Ranji Trophy title, Bengal lose another final“I had a blackout like feeling when I went in to bat,” Pujara said, with the Ranji Trophy beside him. “It was tough on my body. I was down with fever, throat infection so it wasn’t easy. It was frustrating when I couldn’t come out to bat at my usual No. 4 position for Saurashtra because I knew runs on the board was key and we had won a crucial toss.”On this wicket I thought if I can walk in early, I can start dominating later. The first day is the best time to bat, but I’m happy that I could play my part [later]. I wanted to respect the conditions. On day two when I walked in, it was not easy. I felt a blackout [again], so it was tough. But you have to be motivated and lead from the front and set a good example. We had to set a platform for the bowlers, and that partnership with Arpit (who made a 287-ball 106) gave us a lot of confidence. Once we had 350-plus, we knew with our remarkable bowling attack, we were in a good position.

“If someone takes 67 wickets in a season, I don’t [think] a performance can get bigger than that. There has to be lot of importance to Ranji Trophy performance to get picked for the Indian team and I will be surprised if he is not picked in the Indian team.”Pujara on Unadkat’s Ranji season

“It was a tough pitch,” Pujara continued. “The ball wasn’t coming on nicely, it was slow, so yes I didn’t want to bother about conditions. I needed to put my head down and play a crucial knock, ultimately we needed a good total for the bowlers.”With the ball, the onus was on Unadkat to strike. He came into the match with 65 wickets, needing just four more to break Ashutosh Aman’s record for most wickets in a Ranji Trophy season. As such, no other fast bowler has taken these many wickets in a season. Unadkat came in to a tense final day with no wickets to his name. Bengal needed 72 runs and Saurashtra four wickets, and Unadkat rose to the occasion when his team needed him the most.”It was very draining emotionally and physically to be out there for couple of days and fighting for the coveted trophy. The guys put in everything that they had,” Unadkat said. “Though the energy levels were down a little at times, I think the way we won the semi-finals gave us self-belief. It gave us a marker that there one twist was left in the game and we will have to work hard for it. That hope and belief helped us sail through.”Unadkat finished the tournament with 67 wickets, and Pujara, his best friend, couldn’t have been happier. “If someone takes 67 wickets in a season, I don’t [think] a performance can get bigger than that,” Pujara said. “There has to be lot of importance to Ranji Trophy performance to get picked for the Indian team. Jaydev was modest that he would not be thinking about the Indian call but I will be surprised if he is not picked in the Indian team.”The guys believed in each other and all of us were contributing towards one goal.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Fortaleza venceu o Sport por 4 a 1 neste domingo (26), na Arena Perbambuco, pela semifinal da Copa do Nordeste. Os gols do Leão do Pici foram marcados por Moisés, três vezes, e Hércules, ainda no primeiro tempo; Gustavo Coutinho diminuiu para o Leão da Ilha. Com o resultado, o Tricolor está classificado para a decisão e encara o CRB em dois jogos.

➡️ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!

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⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?
O Fortaleza atropelou o Sport, sobretudo no primeiro tempo. Logo aos oito minutos, Moisés abriu o placar em chute rasteiro de fora da área. O atacante do Leão do Pici ainda marcou outros dois gols antes do intervalo, além de dar assistência para Hércules também balançar as redes.

No segundo tempo, o Tricolor diminuiu o ritmo e, apesar seguir criadondo as melhores chances, não conseguiu amplicar o placar. Nos minutos finais do duelo, Gustavo Coutinho descontou para o Leão da Ilha e deu números finais à partida.

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➡️ CRB derrota o Bahia nos pênaltis e está na final da Copa do Nordeste

📅 O QUE VEM POR AÍ?
O Sport visita o Goiás na Serrinha na sexta-feira (31), às 21h30, pela oitava rodada da Série B. Por sua vez, o Fortaleza recebe Sportivo Trinidense na quarta-feira (29), às 21h, pela rodada final da fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana.

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Copa do NordesteFortalezaSport

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، عن ملامح التحركات المقبلة داخل نادي الزمالك، سواء فيما يخص مستقبل الجهاز الفني بقيادة أحمد عبد الرؤوف، أو سياسة النادي في سوق الانتقالات خلال الفترة القادمة، في ظل الأزمة المالية التي يمر بها الفريق.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الثلاثاء: “في الأيام المقبلة ستكون هناك جلسة بين إدارة الزمالك وجون إدوارد لحسم ملف المدرب، هل سيستمر الكابتن أحمد عبد الرؤوف أم لا؟ حتى الآن لا يوجد أي حديث عن رحيله”.

وتابع: “الزمالك مستمر في دعم عبد الرؤوف؛ لأنهم يرون أن أداء الفريق يتحسن، ولذلك سيواصلون منحه الفرصة، أتمنى فقط أن يستمر هذا الدعم بغضّ النظر عن نتيجة مباراة واحدة”.

واستطرد: “إدارة الزمالك تفكر الآن في كيفية تحقيق توازن مالي بعد الأزمة الكبيرة التي يمر بها النادي، لذلك أي لاعب يأتي له عرض جيد بعد كأس العرب أو كأس إفريقيا سيكون مرحبًا برحيله”.

طالع أيضًا | مفاجأة مُدوية.. فيريرا يُعلن الصدام القانوني ضد ميدو بعد “التشهير به”

وأضاف: “أي اسم في الفريق، سواء كان أساسيًا أو احتياطيًا، لو وصله عرض قوي سيتم الموافقة عليه، حتى لو جاء عرض لخوان بيزيرا أو غيره، النادي لا يمانع، بشرط أن يكون المقابل المالي مناسبًا”.

وتحدث عن ملف محمد السيد قائلًا: “النادي يحاول إقناع اللاعب بالتجديد على نفس العرض القديم وهو 5 ملايين، وقد تكون بطولة كأس مصر فرصة لظهوره وإثبات نفسه، الزمالك يفكر كذلك في وضع بند يسمح له بالاحتراف إذا جاءه عرض جيد”.

وتابع: “النادي سيعيد فتح باب التفاوض معه سواء من أجل التجديد أو الرحيل في يناير بطريقة تفيد الطرفين”.

واختتم: “قلت من زمان: لماذا تبعدون اللاعب؟ اتركوه يلعب وتستفيدون منه ويستفيد هو، اللعب هو الذي يكشف مستواه، ولو ربنا كرمه وجاءه عرض أوروبي يتوكل على الله، الكرة ليست كيمياء ولا ذرة، الكرة بسيطة جدًا”.

Southampton have been urged to appoint a 52-year-old manager instead of giving interim boss Tonda Eckert the job on a full-time basis.

Southampton on course to appoint Eckert on a permanent basis

The Saints are preparing for a return to Championship action this weekend and look set to be under the leadership of caretaker manager Eckert once again.

The 32-year-old has won both of his matches as interim boss so far, defeating QPR and Sheffield Wednesday to take Southampton away from any relegation trouble.

A trip to Charlton Athletic is next on the agenda for Eckert, and recent reports have suggested that he is set to be given the Southampton job on a permanent basis.

Following the sacking of Will Still at the beginning of the month, a plethora of available and in work managers have been linked with the job. However, Sport Republic are yet to appoint a permanent successor.

Eckert appears to be in pole position after his start to life at St Mary’s with the first team, and he has impressed Finn Azaz, who said:

“Since his first meeting, I was really impressed. It hasn’t been drastic changes. He’s been able to watch from outside and tweak a few things. He has been able to instil his message and new energy and his drive and a new voice. As I say, it hasn’t been drastic changes.

“We are playing in the same shape almost. We went out there with similar personnel, [there were] just a few tweaks. I would like to thank him. He’s been top level.”

However, Southampton and Sport Republic have been urged to consider another rumoured target.

Southampton urged to move for Brendan Rodgers

Talking to Football League World, Southampton pundit Martin Sanders urged the Saints to appoint Brendan Rodgers.

Now out of work after leaving Celtic, Rodgers was linked with the St Mary’s vacancy at the beginning of November, although it doesn’t seem as if Sport Republic have made a move for the Northern Irishman who they admire.

Sanders said that Rodgers “ticks every box” and a move would “show real ambition”.

Rodgers has previous Championship experience with Swansea City, winning the playoffs with the south Wales side in 2011, and almost 15 years later, a return to the second tier could be what a number of Southampton fans would welcome.

Southampton can end Eckert experiment by hiring "insanely talented" manager

Sunderland fans will be hurriedly counting down the days now until their beloved Black Cats do battle again in the Premier League.

In an ideal reality, those of a Wearside persuasion love to have seen their high-flying team continue to play during the international break, instead of having to take an enforced pause.

Indeed, Regis Le Bris’ men find themselves in an uncharted fourth position in the Premier League table at the time of writing, which is some feat, considering the Frenchman has only just guided the Black Cats back up to the big time.

A huge part of their whirlwind success story so far has been Granit Xhaka, who is already being viewed as one of Sunderland’s most cherished figures of recent years.

How Xhaka compares to other Sunderland captains

Before delving deeper into Xhaka becoming an instant fan favourite at the Stadium of Light, he isn’t the only notable recent captain who plied his trade on Wearside.

Just last season, Luke O’Nien would bravely battle for the Black Cats all campaign long, donning the armband, with Sunderland’s former number one goalkeeper in Anthony Patterson, even going out of his way to hail him as a “leader.”

With three goals and 16 clean sheets under his belt, it’s clear why he was described in such glowing terms, with O’Nien arguably as important to his side’s promotion efforts, as Xhaka has proven to be in punching above their weight in the league above.

Other notable faces who have been given the weighty pressure of the Black Cats armband in recent years include John O’Shea, who made 256 appearances for the Wearside outfit, all of which came in the Premier League.

Of course, there was also the no-nonsense approach of Lee Cattermole, but not even his full-bloodedness for the cause, nor his six-goal contributions in the big time, could keep Sunderland from eventually slipping down to League One.

This is where Sunderland has undoubtedly hit the jackpot with Xhaka, with his £13m arrival through the door in the summer raising the standards of everyone around him, so much so that relegation already feels very unlikely.

The Swiss has also singlehandedly been a force to get Sunderland over the line in tense matches, too, with a goal fiercely put away against Everton at the start of November, securing a 1-1 draw, which was also collected off the back of the ex-Arsenal warrior, winning five duels to keep the Toffees at bay.

The concern will be that Xhaka, despite looking like a fine wine now, is 33 years of age, meaning he won’t be a long-term captain option.

Thankfully, Le Bris may already have a future captain on his hands.

Sunderland's future captain

While the majority of the talk so far this season has centred on the number of brand-new signings that have made the step-up to the Premier League look effortless, Le Bris should also be commended for what he’s managed to get out of stars who have been there since the club’s Championship days.

Wilson Isidor is already up to four Premier League goals after bagging 13 in the second tier last season. Moreover, Daniel Ballard has looked formidable in the heart of Le Bris’ defence when handed opportunities to shine, having been noted as a “diamond” for how much he puts his body on the line, early into his Sunderland career by his former Stadium of Light boss in Tony Mowbray.

In the here and now, much like Xhaka, he has become a dependable warrior for Le Bris to trust in, with the Northern Ireland international firing home that effort past David Raya last time out in league action to hand the hosts a shock one-goal advantage over top-of-the-table Arsenal.

His underlying numbers aren’t that far off the 33-year-old’s either, with his similar fight and passion, as Sunderland try to gain as many early-season victories as possible, standing him in good stead to succeed the midfield veteran as the Black Cats’ next dominant and assured captain.

Games played

9

11

Goals scored

2

1

Assists

0

3

Touches*

42.2

70.4

Accurate passes*

24.3 (83%)

44.9 (83%)

Clearances*

6.6

3.8

Total duels won*

6.6

6.1

Amazingly, despite starting just six Premier League games this season, owing to injury problems popping up, Ballard has trumped Xhaka notably in terms of duels won per match, with a mighty six won just against Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.

He isn’t a million miles away in other areas, either, with Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley highlighting Ballard’s sharp rise to become a Premier League-calibre defender as “phenomenal”.

For the time being, the Black Cats will continue to rely on the experience and know-how of their Basel-born midfielder.

Still, the commanding number five is definitely a worthy heir to Xhaka’s intimidating throne.

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BySean Markus Clifford Nov 10, 2025

Major League Baseball could never admit it but they would be bad business people if they weren't rooting for a New York Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers World Series. The C-Suites at FOX were certainly not crushed when chips landed that way. No one can blame anyone for reaping the occasional dream matchup.

The part about this renewal of ancient October hostilities that gets a bit annoying is when people who have nothing to gain and don't particularly care about baseball act like every team in flyover country is an afterthought. And I'll be honest, my first impulse was to push back against this perceived coastal elitism and resist embracing Yankees-Dodgers with open arms.

It was helpful, then, to hear the message delivered by Jeff Passan on Ryen Russillo's latest podcast (12:20 mark).

"I've been waiting my whole life for this," ESPN's baseball insider said. "And this coming from somebody who grew up in Cleveland, who lives in Kansas City, who appreciates the plight of small markets. Who understands that baseball is not like basketball or football or hockey in that there is a gap among all of these teams and sometimes not just like a regular gap, sometimes two or three standard deviation gap when it comes to payroll. I think I'm supposed to be the person who looks at this World Series and says f— that, I don't want to see that, this says everything that's wrong about baseball. But to me it's just the opposite of that. This is everything that can be right about sports. Behemoths don't equal bad. Large markets don't equal problematic for someone who desires a level-playing field for some of the smaller-market teams. What I love is good baseball and stars being put in position to do things that we're going to talk about for years down the road."

Like Stefon describing the hottest New York City club, this World Series really does have everything. The biggest markets. Cash falling out of pockets. East Coast vs. West Coast. The largest player to ever play the game and perhaps the best. It's Aaron Judge vs. Shohei Ohtani but it's so much more. What American is giving up in the plucky underdog department they are gaining 10-fold in legacy and, most importantly, the highest-quality baseball on the planet.

If Passan can stop wearing his heartland on this sleeve and embrace it with open arms then everyone else who feels some type of way about the World Series can as well.